Page 268 of Where We Stay

I lower myself onto one knee.

Blair starts crying properly now.

“And if you choose me,” I say, my throat tightening, “I’ll choose you every fucking day for the rest of my life.”

I look up at her.

“Blair Morgan, will you marry me?”

She goes completely silent, tears streaming down her face.

For one horrible second, I’m afraid she’s going to say no.

Then Blair draws in a shaking breath, and her smile breaks wide.

“Of course I will!”

Fuck.

I slide the ring onto her finger and stand, pulling her into my arms before kissing her hard. Blair wraps her arms around my neck, laughing against my mouth.

My girl.

My fucking fiancée.

I rest my forehead against hers. “I love you the most, Blair Morgan.”

“I love you too. So much.”

She kisses me again before looking down at the ring on her finger.

“I never thought I’d want to change my name again,” she admits.

“You don’t have to.” I lift her chin until she looks at me. “Marry me and stay Blair Morgan if that’s what you want.”

“I know.” She smiles down at the ring. “But Blair Ashford sounds pretty fucking good.”

“Whatever you want, baby. Always.”

I spent the better part of three years keeping everyone outside the life I’d built with Aspen. I told myself it was easier that way. Safer.

Then Blair fucking Morgan rolled into Hartwell in that ridiculous Kombi and wrecked every rule I had.

Falling in love with her was easy.

Believing she might stay was the part that scared the shit out of me.

But she did.

And now we have this.

Her.

Us.

Something worth staying for.

Fifty Two